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Original poster

Brighton school admissions nightmare

36 replies

Mandzjj · 16/09/2014 18:36

I recently moved to Brighton in August, I applied online for my local catchment schools in July whilst schools were still open, they were very unhelpful to me and refused to sort anything until schools started back in September. My 11 year old is still NOT in school. I have been offered my second choice of varndean, which I am appealing as all my sons friends go dorothy stringer. I have contacted varndean to try arrange a viewing of the school, as even when appealing you still have to start the given school, and they can't fit me in until 25th sep, and that's not even the start date!! I am disgusted that the education authority down here allow children to be out of education all this time. Has anyone else had these problems?

OP posts:
Floggingmolly · 16/09/2014 22:23

The friends that he's known since August... You really are scrapping the bottom of the barrel there.

thereturnofshoesy · 16/09/2014 22:20

Dorothy stringer is the most popular over subscribed school. so can't see that you could win an appeal......because his friends go there.

Coolas · 16/09/2014 22:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 16/09/2014 22:18

It doesn't sound like a nightmare to me.

You moved and have been given a place in your 2nd choice of school. Contact them and get him started ASAP.

Out of interest, if you've just moved how has he got so many friends? This btw is certainly not grounds to appeal.

You need to get him into the school that's been offered and have his name on the waiting list of the other one.

tiggytape · 16/09/2014 22:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Doodledot · 16/09/2014 21:58

You have a school place in your. 2 nd choice - much better than thousands of children. Tons start with no friends at their new schools. Those that do have friends make new ones . Just tell them had is starting tomorrow

PatriciaHolm · 16/09/2014 19:32

If the place is there, there is no reason he cannot start now. Insist.

If you are delaying until you have seen the school, then that's not really their fault.

In terms of appeal, you need to show that the detriment to your child of not attending is greater than the detriment to the school of admitting. Realistically, not having friends there is unlikely to be enough - plenty of kids go to high schools where they don't know anyone, it's very common. You need to identify clear other reasons - does the chosen school excel in provision of something specific your son is good at, for example - music, sport?

Original poster
Mandzjj · 16/09/2014 19:17

Yes having no friends at a school is grounds for appeal

OP posts:
Original poster
Mandzjj · 16/09/2014 19:16

They haven't given me any indication on an actual start date, I think once we have been given the tour we still have to order and wait on uniform. Two weeks is a long time to a child already nervous about starting somewhere where he doesn't know any1, as by now friend groups have already formed and we could still be waiting another few weeks.

OP posts:
GoodArvo · 16/09/2014 18:50

Is your son going to a different school from his friends grounds for an appeal?

PatriciaHolm · 16/09/2014 18:49

When are they suggesting your child start? If the place is available, why can't they start now? Term only started around 2 weeks ago, that isn't very long to be out of school really.

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